Ever hear the saying “If these walls could talk”?

When your home is on the market you don’t want buyers coming into your home and uttering that phrase! You don’t want any tell-tell signs of what your walls would say. I am sure your walls would have some amazing family stories, some funny ones included but you don’t want a buyer to see these signs. Why? You ask. Because you want your walls blank, you want the buyer to see their stories, not yours. So make sure you have prepared your walls to “keep their mouths shut”…the big SSSHHHHHH! Here are a couple of tips.

1. Fresh white paint – will allow your walls to look like new and is very inexpensive to accomplish in most rooms
2. Prior to painting use some “spackle” or joint compound to fill in any dents, nail holes and dings so your project looks professional perfect.
3. Make sure cracks in any wall or ceiling are repaired and repaired properly.
4. If you have wallpaper make sure it is not torn.
5. Woodwork must be CLEAN and scuff-free. You might use some Old English on wood molding and touch-up paint if painted-out wood work.
6. If you have a “stain” on a wall you need to use some “Kilz” and then repaint. Kilz is a product that will prevent a stain from showing through the paint.
7. Windows must be cleaned and streak free. Vinegar and newspapers make this job easy!
8. Window sills must not show signs of wear or weather. Sills can easily be resurfaced depending on the product. Wood fill putty or sticks are handy. If damage is severe you can purchase a “door skin” and use to resurface the areas.

If you would like to discuss more options for interior walls please feel free to contact me.

The truth of the matter is most home sellers become home buyers. Let me try to explain how selling in a buyer’s market could be even better for you in the big picture.

Usually, when you have decided to sell your home it is to find another home, and so the switch from seller to buyer happens really quickly. You want your home to sell so that you can buy. Most second, third and fourth time buyers have a pretty good idea what they want to buy, you might have already decided to sell based on a house you just saw, in a neighborhood you have always wanted to live in. “Move-up Buyers” also at the very least know what price range they should be looking in.

So, if you are a “Move-up Buyer” and you are selling and buying in the same local area it just might be better to be in a buyer’s market than in a seller’s market. Ok, don’t look at me that way, let me explain. I know it does sound a little crazy.

Sure, in a seller’s market you might get more for your home than you ever imagined, there might be a bidding war with multiple offers and the days on market could be just minutes, making you a very happy seller.

On the other side, selling in a buyers market can mean days and days on the market (average is around 105 currently). You have to really be aggressive in your price to be competitive with the over-stock of inventory and you just might get less for your home than you would have a couple of years ago.

A couple of years ago was not the right time for you to sell so that gain really is just an imaginary figure, remember that.

Let’s look at how it was for a buyer in Kitsap County in 2006. I remember this well because I was a buyer during that time period.

• I couldn’t write a home with a contingency
• There were few home to choose from – I spent hours searching
• I had to be ready to write asap with out the benefit of “sleeping on it”
• Even going in full price I had no idea if there were going to be escalation clauses
• I was in several transaction were there were multiple offers from other buyers
• I did receive the “take it or leave it” attitude of sellers because buyers were a dime a dozen!
• I was told during an inspection process that if I asked for anything the seller was ready to take the “back up” offer.
• It was tough being a buyer!

Now, lets look at how it is for a buyer in Kitsap County in 2008.

• Most sellers will be happy to take a contingent offer (it’s an offer)
• The inventory of home is HUGE so you have more choice
• You have time to look and decide without feeling too rushed. You might even be able to “sleep on it”.
• The average asking price is coming down – you might get more home
• You have the opportunity to ask for some concessions (closing costs, home warranty, repairs)
• There might be homes listed with some incentives to buyers - Buyer Bonus

You don’t want to be the seller that waits until the market turns around. You will get less for your current home and then you will be buying in a seller’s market, not much sense in that. We never know where or when the bottom of the market is just like we don’t know when the market has turned until it has happened and we are on the up swing.

I would much rather buy in a buyers market than sell in a seller’s market because you have more control over your final product – the “Move-Up” house. You can feel better living in a home that you were able to choose wisely and were able to make an informed decision on rather than feeling like you had to make an offer out of fear. Buying in “fear of loss” is no fun and you loose so much control.

Remember, you may get less for your current home than you thought or you could have a couple of years ago, but you will be able to buy more with what you do realize out of your sale. You will also benefit with the Seller’s [Move-up Buyers] Advantage Plan.